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SCMP

This article was first published on December 16, 1989.
By Eammon Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Leung
Mystery over death crash
The Marine Department has launched a full inquiry into why a Hong Kong-Macau catamaran ferry suddenly swerved off course and cruised at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, killing at least one person and injuring 18 others before running aground.
(Five days later, authorites updated the death toll to three.)
A man thrown overboard from a pleasure craft crushed as the Apollo Jet slammed into the embankment of the typhoon shelter was still missing early this morning, Saturday December 16, 1989, despite frantic efforts by divers to find him.
Deputy District Commander of Yau Ma Tei police, Mr Richard Tudor, said the accident happened at about 5.40pm when Apollo Jet, owned by the Hong Kong-Macau Hydrofoil company, apparently went out of control.
The ferry, with eight crewmen on board, was heading for its Cheung Sha Wan mooring north of Stonecutters Island after unloading passengers at the nearby China-Hong Kong Ferry terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It veered off course and ran into the typhoon shelter, colliding with a kaido (passenger junk) and a walla-walla, throwing 20 people on board the two vessels into the water.
It then rammed into the centre of a double deck wooden pleasure craft parted at the waterfront slicing it in half, and mounted the Ferry Street sea wall.
The roof of the pleasure craft lay atop the bow of the ferry while the rest of the boat was trapped underneath.
Firemen and rescue workers tied the ferry to nearby trees with ropes to prevent it from sliding back into the water.
Six people on board the pleasure craft, including four who were playing mahjong at the time, were all thrown overboard.
One of those sitting at the mahjong table, Mr Ng Kam-chuen, 53, was tossed about 15 metres into the air and landed on the ground. He was dead before arriving at the hospital.
Another mahjong player, Mr Leung Kam-wah, 38, is still missing.
The boat moored beside the pleasure craft was damaged.
The Hong Kong-Macau Hydrofoil Company last night expressed regret over the incident.
Mr Tudor said it was far too carly to determine the cause.
“We’ve interviewed the crew and there will be an in-depth marine board of inquiry,” he said.
Construction worker, Mr Lee Kam-hung, 38, said he was on the top deck of the pleasure craft watching his elder brother playing mahjong.
“It came so quickly and suddenly that the boat began to sink, 1 managed to jump on to another craft for safety.
“Other people were thrown into the water. The seamen on the catamaran did not make any attempt to rescue the people but tried to close the windows,” said Mr Lee.
He was slightly injured at his waist and on the forehead. He was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and discharged.

An owner of one of the sunken sampans, Mr To Tai-shing, said there was no warning before the crash as it occurred very suddenly.
“All eight on board the sampan went into the water. I was picked up by other sampans,” said Mr To, who sustained an injury to his abdomen.
The Apollo Jet’s crew, accompanied by detectives, left the hospital at 9.10pm after treatment and refused to comment.
Eighty firemen, 30 policemen and 14 divers — eight from the Fire Services and six from the Royal Navy — took part in the rescue operation.
With the scene lit up by powerful spotlights, divers from the Fire Services Department and Royal Navy searched below the ferry.
Fire Services south Kowloon divisional officer, Mr Ng Ho-wai, said that poor visibility in the waters of the shelter hampered the search, which was called off at about 10.50pm.
The ferry was towed away at 12.15am.
Of the 18 people injured — 16 men and two women — nine were admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, one in poor condition and eight in fair condition.
The rest were treated and discharged.


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When a ferry crashed into a Hong Kong typhoon shelter, killing 3 – from the SCMP archive

A Hong Kong-Macau Hydrofoil Company catamaran cruised at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter on December 15, 1989. Photo: SCMP 

Clipping from the Post’s December 16, 1989 issue. Photo: SCMP

A catamaran ferry cruised at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter on December 15, 1989. Photo: SCMP 

Hongkongers brace for disruption as CMB drivers go on strike in 1989 – from SCMP archive

Buses stopped at the North Point Ferry Pier bus terminal because of a strike staged by the drivers on November 29, 1989. Photo: SCMP

Traffic congestion on the Ap Lei Chau Bridge due to the strike. Photo: SCMP

Workers hung demonstration banners at the bus depot in North Point ahead of their strike. Photo: SCMP 

Bus drivers hold a meeting on November 28, 1989. Photo: SCMP

Hongkongers vote in first post-handover district-level elections – from the SCMP archive

Tung Chee-hwa (far left) opens ballot boxes in Causeway Bay Counting Centre on November 28, 1999. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Launching ceremony of the voting publicity vans at Kwun Tong District Branch offices carpark on November 27, 1999. Photo: Wan Kam-yan

A clipping from the front page of the Post on November 28, 1999. Photo: SCMP

Fred Li’s election campaign at Shun Tin Estate. Photo: Wan Kam-yan

Election staff bring ballot boxes to the Hong Kong Park Indoor Game Hall. Photo: Martin Chan

Hong Kong marine authorities to inspect pier struck by ferry after accident leaves 34 hurt

About 40 passengers sustained light injuries when a ferry bumped into a pier in Hong Kong’s financial district on Friday morning. Photo: Jelly Tse

Police have said the injured passengers were taken to Queen Mary Hospital and Ruttonjee Hospital. Photo: Handout

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35 years ago, a catamaran ferry crashed at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, killing three and injuring 18 others


35 years ago, a catamaran ferry crashed at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, killing three and injuring 18 others.


From our archives

On This Day | When a ferry crashed into a Hong Kong typhoon shelter, killing 3 – from the SCMP archive

35 years ago, a catamaran ferry crashed at full speed into the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, killing three and injuring 18 others

Mystery over death crash